Cervical diaphragm



Sept. 8, 1942- e. w. TOWNSEND 2,295,062 v CERVICAL DIAPHRAGM Filed Dec.5, 1941 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 CERVICAL DIAPHRAGM Guy W. Townsend, Denver,(3010., assignor to Earle C. Haas, Denver, Colo.

Application December 5, 1941, Serial No. 421,712

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-131) This invention relates to a vaginal or cervicaldiaphragm, more particularly of the type of vaginal diaphragm used inconditions where the physician is desirous of sealing or damming the osuteri from the vaginal vault.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide aself-retaining diaphragm which will prevent flow from the vagina to theuterus, and yet will not interfere with the flow of normal secretionsfrom the uterus. Another object of the invention is to provide adiaphragm of this character which may be trimmed down by the physicianto adapt it to different conditions which may be encountered withoutinjury to its sealing function.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved servical diaphragm;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections through the improved diaphragmillustrating two alternate methods of manufacture; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, sagittal section of the humanbody illustrating a typical placement of the improved diaphragm.

The basic principle of the improved diaphragm is the provision of aplurality of miniature, concentric, diaphragms forming multiple,annular, flexible valves or fins thereabout. These miniature diaphragmsor annular valves are inclined so as to serve in the manner of checkvalves, that is, they act to check the entrance of undesired substancesto the s uteri but do not interfere with the discharge of normalsecretions therefrom. These annular valves or fins are very thin andflexible so that they may conform to irregularities in the tissuesurface and since each valve is but a unit in a plurality of valves anyleakage in one or more can be checked by the remainder of the valves.

The plurality of diaphragms or valves also serve in the nature ofmultiple vacuum cups to assist in retaining the invention in its properplacement. The plurality of annular valves also serves to make thisdiaphragm universal in its application,

for the attending physician may trim away the outer valves to shape thediaphragm or reduce the size thereof without injuring the efliciency ofthe remaining valves.

The preferred form of the improved diaphragm comprises a concavo-complexdisc ill of rubber or similar impervious, flexible material. The disc ispreferably, but not necessarily, thickened at its middle to providesuflicient stiffness at its peripheral portions.

A plurality of frusto-conical, concentric, annular fins l I are mouldedon the concave face of the disc in such a way that they will inclineoutwardly from the concave surface and outwardly from the axis of thedisc, as shown in Fig. 3. A protuberance 12 extends from the axis of theconcave face terminating in any suitable head l3.

In use the diaphragm is positioned against the os uteri with theprotuberance l2. approximating the opening of the cervical canal. It hasbeen found that the disc will retain itself against the os uteri, withthe assistance of tissue support against its convex face, due to thevacuum action of the plurality of valve fins. The protuberance l2serves, however, to prevent accidental and mechanical lateralmisplacement of the diaphragm disc.

The flexible valves or fins l I contact the tissue surfaces around theos uteri and flex themselves to conform to the undulations of thetissues so as to provide a plurality of annular contacts about the osuteri with each annular contact assisting in sealing the remainingcontacts. Due to the incline of the fins, external substances tending totravel toward the os uteri are deflected away from the tissues whileinternal secretions are allower to flow along the tissues past the fins.

An alternately formed diaphragm is illustrated in Fig. 2 comprising aplurality of concentric, thin, flexible, dished discs M. The discsdecrease in radius of curvature and in diameter as the axis of thediaphragm is approached. The entire series of discs is secured togetheradjacent the axis in any desired manner, such as by means of cement orvulcanization or by means of a stem l5 having an enlarged head l6 whichclamps the discs against a shoulder portion I'I thereon.

The stem carries any suitably shaped extremity such as a pear-shapedextermity l8. This form of the diaphragm is used and functions exactlythe same as the first described form.

It will be noted that the diaphragms may be furnished the profession inthe largest expected size with a wide plurality of valves or fins. Thephysician can then, after examination of the patient, trim off one ormore of the ring valves to While a specific form of the improvement hasbeen described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understoodthat the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A diaphragm oi the class described comprising: a first circulardished disc: a plurality oi successively smaller circular dished discs,nested concentrically within the concavity or the first disc with theirannular edges lying in respective parallel planes, the radius ofconvexity of the reduce the size of the diaphragm without eiiect- 'ingthe efllciency oi the remaining ring valves.

successively smaller discs decreasing as their size decreases, and anaxially positioned stem member projecting from the concave side or saidiisc.

2. A diaphragm oi the class described comprising: a first circulardished disc; a plurality oi successively smaller circular dished discsnested concentrically within theconcavity oi the first with theirannular edges lying in ;-respectlvc parallel planes, the radius ofconvexity of the successively smaller discs decreasing as their sizedecreases, all 01 said discs being joined adjacent their common axes;and a stem member projecting from said axes into the concavity of saiddiscs.

GUY W. TOWNSEND.

